You’re tired, stressed out and in need of some serious mental and emotional TLC. However, with a serious lack of time and a potential lack of funds, to indulge in massage or to enlist in extracurricular classes is out of the question. Therefore, cue: meditation — the simple and accessible way of calming down your psyche without costing a bundle or taking up too much time. Here are five guidelines that will have you sleeping better, thinking clearer and living life to its absolutely fullest.
Sit up straight
Sitting up straight is crucial, and while it’s important to be comfortable, you’ll fail to achieve the full effects of meditation if you’re slouching or curled up. By sitting upright with your spine straight, you’ll not only begin breathing better, but you’re giving your back the much-needed stretch it craves especially if, like us, you’re chained to a keyboard for the better part of the day. With that being said, you’ll never relax if you’re uncomfortable, so if you’re suffering from back problems or other muscular issues, simply assume the position that makes you most at ease.
Meditate for as long as you want (or don’t want) to
Although you can meditate for however long you choose, it’s important to know that there’s no minimum or maximum time you need to commit to, and anywhere from 15 to 30 minute intervals will still serve to calm your nerves and emotions. Simply taking a small amount of time to focus solely on yourself and your emotions will do wonders, and while longer intervals may serve you better, you’ll still be bettering yourself while keeping it short and sweet.
Make time in the morning
While you can meditate at any time of day, experts suggest beginning your morning with meditation and returning home from work to do the same. By spending those 15 minutes prior to work focusing solely on energizing yourself, you’ll undoubtedly approach your day with a healthy and positive demeanour that’ll do wonders both for you and your work day. Also, by coming home to mentally refresh after a long eight hours, you’ll go into your evenings free from the stress of work and ready to enjoy time with your friends, family or by yourself.
Make it a daily ritual
Though meditating once in a while will still boost your mental and emotional state, it’s best to maintain your psyche by practicing meditation on a daily basis. By taking 15 minutes out of your 24 hours, you’ll work to abolish stress and keep yourself centred, thus preventing the drama of the workplace from infiltrating the rest of your life. Think of meditation like washing your face: sure, you’ll survive if you skip it, but when you don’t, everything feels so much better.
Don’t overthink it
The key to meditation is to welcome the spontaneity of thinking while centering yourself and eliminating the stress the world has constantly exposed you to. Therefore, while sitting there deeply breathing, instead of focusing on your ever-growing to-do list, simply allow thoughts to just happen — allowing them to enter your mind, and to evolve from there. The point of meditation is to become more at ease with what’s happening, so sit back and embrace the world of free-flowing and way of laissez-faire.
